The Rape Crisis Centre in Belfast today faced closure after being told the British government was cutting off funding.
The organisation was urgently consulting lawyers after being informed by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety its cash life-line of some £66,000 was to be cancelled.
The board of directors, volunteer counsellors and staff at the centre said they were angry and dismayed at the decision.
The Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Centre is Northern Ireland's only provider of free, confidential and crisis counselling services to survivors of rape and child abuse.
"The withdrawal of this funding will inevitably result in the closure of the RC&SAC which would celebrate its 25th year of supporting survivors on International Women's Day on March 7 2007," it said.
It added that if it was forced to close its doors, the thousands of survivors who came to them would have no other option but to wait a long time to receive much needed counselling and support.
They said they were only informed of the decision by telephone yesterday afternoon and official letter today.
In the letter the Permanent Secretary at the DHSSPS said the centre had, despite warnings, repeatedly failed to comply with the terms and conditions for funding.
That included the need for "the keeping of proper records, sound financial accountability and proper corporate governance arrangements."
The Permanent Secretary, Dr Andrew McCormick, added: "The decision to cease funding for any organisation which provides a service to vulnerable people is never taken lightly.
"However, in light of the continuing failure by your organisation to meet government accounting requirements, we have been left with no other option but to cease funding."
He said he would welcome comments from the organisation within 14 days.